Maths Sequences
Maths Sequences
Maths Sequences
AND
GEOMETRIC
SEQUENCES
MATHEMATICS
3 ESO
Sequences (Sucesiones)
A number sequence is a set of numbers, usually separated by commas, arranged in an
order. The first term is referred to as t 1 , the second term as t 2 , the third term as
t 3 and so on. The nth term is referred to as t n .
A sequence may stop at some number, or continue indefinitely. The following are examples of
sequences:
a) 5, 7, 9, 11
t 1=5
t 2=7
t 3=9
t 4=11
The three dots, called an ellipsis, indicate that the sequence continues indefinitely.
Exercise
1.- Describe the pattern and write the next three terms.
a) 4, 7, 10, 13,
pattern: _________________________________________________
b) 3, 6, 12, 24,
pattern: _________________________________________________
c) 1, 2, 4, 7, 11, 16,
pattern: _________________________________________________
d) 4, 12, 6, 18, 9,
pattern: _________________________________________________
e) 2, 3, 9, 10, 30,
pattern: _________________________________________________
pattern: _________________________________________________
g) 9, 27 45, 63,
pattern: _________________________________________________
h) 1, 4, 9, 16, 25,
pattern: _________________________________________________
pattern: _________________________________________________
l) 11, 8, 3, 5, -2, 7,
pattern: _________________________________________________
2.- Imagine a pattern to create your own sequence. Write down its first five terms.
a n =3 n
b)
b n=2 n4
c)
c n=5 2 n
d)
d n=2 n
e)
e n=
a 1=31=3 ;
a 2=32=6 ;
a 3=
a 4 =
a 5=
;;
a 18 =
n 3
n4
1
Example
a) Find a formula for the nth term that determines the sequence 4, 7, 10, 13,
b) Use the formula for the nth term to find
t 35 and
t 50
Solution
a) Find a pattern and use it to write an expression for each term as a function of its term
number.
t 1=4 or 311
t 2=7 or 321
t 3=10 or 331
t 4=13 or 341
So,
b)
t n=3 n1
t 50 =3501=151
Practise
2.- Find a formula for the nth term that determines each sequence. Then, list the next three
terms.
a) 5, 10, 15, 20,
b) 2, 3, 4, 5, ...
c) 6, 5, 4, 3,
d) 1, 4, 9, 16,
e) 2, 4, 6, 8,
g) -1, 0, 1, 2,
k)
1 2 3 4
, , , , ...
2 3 4 5
3.- List the first four terms of the sequence determined by each of the following.
a)
t n=n 12
b)
t n=n1 n 1
c)
t n= 1
d)
t n=
1
n 1
d) Write an expression that represents the number of asterisks in the nth I-shape in terms of n.
e) Using the expression from question d), how many asterisks are there in the 65th I-shape? The
100th I-shape?
Finding the formula for the nth term of a general arithmetic sequence
Note that a general arithmetic sequence where a is the first term and d is the common
difference is
t1 = a
t 2 = ad
t 3 = ad d = a2 d
t 4 = a2 d d = a3 d
...
t 2 t 1 = ad a = d
t 3 t 2 = a2 d ad = a2 d a d = d
Example 2. Finding the Formula for the nth Term.
a=8
and
d =4
t n = an 1 d
Substitute known values:
t n = 8n 14
Expand:
t n = 84 n 4
Simplify:
t n = 4 n4
t4 ,
t5
and
t 21
3 , 2, 7, ... , 152
Solution
For the given sequence,
a= 3
t n = 152
d =5 , and
Substitute the known values in the formula for the general term and solve for n.
t n = an 1 d
Substitute known values:
152 =
3n 15
Expand:
152 =
35 n 5
Simplify:
152 = 5 n 8
Solve for n:
1528 = 5 n 88
160 = 5 n
160
5n
=
5
5
32=n
Example 4. Finding
tn
In an arithmetic sequence,
sequence and t n
t 7 = 121
and
Solution
Substitute known values in the formula for the nth term to write a system of equations. Then,
solve the system.
t n = an 1 d
Write an equation for
t7 :
121=a7 1 d
121=a6 d
(1)
t 15 :
193=a15 1 d
193=a14 d
(2)
72=8 d
121=a69
Solve for a:
121=a54
d=9
a = 67
Since a = 67 and d = 9 , the first three terms of the sequence are 67, 76, and 85.
To find
t n , substitute 67 for a and 9 for d in the formula for the nth term.
t n = an 1 d
t n = 67n 1 9
t n = 679 n 9
t n = 9 n58
Practise
1. Find the next three terms of each arithmetic sequence.
a) 5.8, 7.2, 8.6,
b)
3 5 7
,
,
, ...
4 4 4
2. Given the formula for the nth term of an arithmetic sequence, write the first 4 terms.
a)
tn = 5n 2
b)
tn =
n3
2
3. Determine which of the following sequences are arithmetic. If a sequence is arithmetic, write
the values of a and d.
a) 5, 9, 13, 17,
b) 1, 6, 10, 15, 19,
c) 2, 4, 8, 16, 32,
d) -1, -4, -7, -10,
e) 1, -1, 1, -1, 1,
f)
1 2 3 4
,
,
,
,
2 3 4 5
y , y2 , y3 , y4 ,
k)
x , 2x, 3x, 4x ,
l)
b , b2 c , b4 c , b6 c ,
4. Given the values of a and d, write the first four terms of each arithmetic sequence.
a)
a=
5
1
; d=
2
4
b)
t 1=3 m ; d =1 m
5. Find the formula for the nth term for each arithmetic sequence.
a) 9, 16, 23,
c)
1
3
, 1,
, 2 , ...
2
2
d)
6.- Find the number of terms in each of the following arithmetic sequences.
a) -11, -7, -3, , 153
c)
6,
7
,
2
1, ... , 104
d)
7.- Find a and d, and then write the formula for the nth term,
the following terms.
a)
t 2 = 12
and
t5 = 9
b)
t 3 = 4 and
t 21 = 5
t 50 ?
t 200 ?
50
=5
10
250
=5
50
This type of sequence is called a geometric sequence. The ratio of consecutive terms is
called the common ratio. The first term, t 1 , is denoted by the letter a. The common
ratio is denoted by the letter r.
Example 1
Given the formula for the nth term of a sequence, t n=5 2n 1 , write the first 5 terms. Notice
that this is a geometric sequence. What is the common ratio for this geometric sequence?
Finding the formula for the nth term of a general geometric sequence
Note that a general geometric sequence where a is the first term and r is the common ratio
is:
t1 = a
t 2 = ar
t 3 = ar r = ar
t 4 = ar 2 r = ar 3
...
t n = ar n
Note that r is the ratio of any successive pair of terms. For example,
t3
ar2
=
=r
t2
ar
t2
ar
=
=r
t1
a
a=2
and
r =3
t n = a rn
Substitute known values:
t n = 23n
t6
t n = 23 n
a=3
t n = 384
r =2 , and
Substitute the known values in the formula for the general term and solve for n.
t n = ar n
384 = 32n
384 32n
=
3
3
Simplify:
128 = 2n
2 7 = 2n
7=n 1
Solve for n:
8=n
1
1
tn
Example 4. Finding
In a geometric sequence,
sequence and t n
t 5 = 1875
and
Solution
Substitute known values in the formula for the nth term to write a system of equations. Then,
solve the system.
t n = ar n
t5 :
1875=ar 5
t7 :
46875=ar 7
46875 a r 6
=
1875 a r 4
Solve for r :
r =5
Since
r =5
or
Since
a=3
(1)
46875=ar 6
(2)
25=r 2
Solve for a:
1875=ar 4
1875=a5 4
1875=a 54
1875=625 a
1875=625 a
3=a
and
Solve for a:
r =5 ,
Since
t n = 35n
a=3
3=a
and
r= 5 ,
t n = 3 5n
Practise
1.- Determine whether each sequence is arithmetic, geometric, or neither. Then, find the next
two terms of each sequence.
a) 1, 4, 9, 16,
b) 1, 2, 4, 8,
d) 1, 2, 4, 7, 11,
f) 32, 16, 8, 4,
g)
11
10
8
5
,
,
,
, ...
3
3
3
3
2.- State the common ratio and write the next three terms of each geometric sequence.
a) 7, - 7, 7, - 7,
c)
1
2
4
8
,
,
,
, ...
3
3
3
3
3.- Given the formula for the nth term of a geometric sequence, write the first 4 terms.
a)
t n=103n
c)
t n= 2 3n
d)
e)
t n=2000.5n
f)
b)
t n=0.5 4n
t n= 1n
t n= 1000 0.1n
4.- Find the formula for the nth term and find the indicated terms for each of the following
geometric sequences.
a) 1, 5, 25,
t 6 and
t9
b) 6, 0.6, 0.06,
t 6 and
t8
c) 4, - 40, 400,
t 8 and
t 12
10
5.- Find the number of terms in each of the following geometric sequences.
a) 4, 12, 36, , 2916
b) 3, 6, 12, , 1536
d)
1
1
1
1
,
,
, ... ,
2
4
8
1024
f)
2
4
8
,
,
, ... , 6912
81
27
9
e)
1
1
,
, 1 , ... , 625
25
5
tn
a)
t 3=36 , t 4 =108
b)
t 2=6 , t 3= 12
c)
t 2=4 , t 4=64
d)
t 3=99 , t 5=11
7.- Motion of a pendulum. On the first swing, a pendulum swings through an arc of 50 cm. On
each successive swing, the length of the arc is 0.97 of the previous length. What is the length of
the arc, to the nearest hundredth of a centimetre, on
a) the 10th swing?
t n=2n
Such formulas are known as explicit formulas ( frmulas en forma explcita). They can be used
to calculate any term in a sequence without knowing the previous term. For example, the tenth
term in the sequence determined by the formula t n=2 n3 is 2(10) + 3, or 23
It is sometimes more convenient to calculate a term in a sequence from one or more previous
terms in the sequence. Formulas that can be used to do this are called recursion formulas.
A recursion formula consists of at least two parts. The parts give the value(s) of the first term(s)
in the sequence, and an equation that can be used to calculate each of the other terms from the
term(s) before it.
t 1=5
t n=t n 12
The first part of the formula shows that the first term is 5. The second part of the formula shows
that each term after the first term is found by adding 2 to the previous term. The sequence is 5,
7, 9, 11, 13, Thus, this recursion formula determines the same sequence as the explicit
formula t n=2 n3 .
Practise
Use the recursion formula to write the first 5 terms of each sequence.
a)
t 1=3
t n=t n
c)
t 1=6
t n=t n 12 n
e)
t 1=3 ;
g)
t 1= 1 ;
t 2=5 ;
t 2=2 ;
t n=t n
t 3=4 ;
tn
t 1= 1
t n=2 tn
d)
t 1= 2
t n=4 t n 1n
f)
t n=2 tn
b)
t n 23 t n
h)
t 1= 1 ; t n1=3t n 1
12
Investigate
In one of his books, the great Italian mathematician Leonardo de Pisa (Fibonacci) (1180-1250)
described the following situation.
A pair of rabbits one month old is too young to produce more rabbits. But at the end of the second
month, they produce a pair of rabbits, and a pair of rabbits every month after that. Each new pair
of rabbits does the same thing, producing a pair of rabbits every month, starting at the end of the
second month.
1.- The table shows how a family of rabbits grows. Extend the table to find the number of pairs
of rabbits at the start of the ninth month.
2.- List the numbers of pairs of rabbits in order as the first 9 terms of a sequence. This sequence
is known as the Fibonacci sequence. After the first two terms of the sequence, how can each
term be calculated from previous terms?
3.- Use the following recursion formula to write the first 9 terms of a sequence. Compare the
result with the Fibonacci sequence.
t 1=1 ;
t 2=1
t n=t n 1t n
13
Arithmetic Series
The following is an arithmetic sequence, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9,
A series is the sum of the terms of a sequence. An arithmetic series is the sum of the terms of
an arithmetic sequence.
The series that corresponds to the sequence above is 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 +
For this series,
S 5=25 .
Investigate
When the mathematician Karl Gauss was eight years old, he used the following method to find
the sum of the natural numbers from 1 to 100.
Let S 100 represent the sum of the first 100 natural numbers. Write out the series in order and
then in reverse order.
Reverse:
Add:
2 S 100 =100101
2 S 100 100101
=
2
2
Divide by 2:
S 100 =50101=5050
The same method can be used to derive the formula for the sum of the general arithmetic
series. (Suma de n trminos de una progresin aritmtica)
a , ad , a2 d , ... , t n 2 d , t n d , t n
The general arithmetic sequence,
terms, with the first term a and the last term t n .
has n
S n = a ad a2 d ... t n 2 d t n d t n
Reverse:
S n = t n t n d t n 2 d ... a2 d ad a
2 S n = at n at n at n ... at n at n at n
Add:
2 S n=n at n
Divide both sides by 2:
Sn =
n
at n
2
5 + 8 + 11 +
Solution
We know a = 5 ; d = 3, and n = 60. Formula for the sum of the first n terms:
We need to calculate the last term,
t n = an 1 d
Substitute
Sn =
Sn =
n
at n
2
t 60
n
at n for the known values
2
S 60 =
60
5182=30187=5610
2
14
a = 5 ; d = 4,
t n=201 and
Sn =
n
at n , we need to calculate the number of
2
terms, n.
t n = an 1 d
201 = 4 n1
201 = 5n 1 4
Substitute
Sn =
200 = 4 n
n
at n for the known values
2
S 50 =
50
5201=25206=5150
2
Practise
1.- Find the sum of
a) the first 100 odd positive integers
15
Geometric Series
The following is a geometric sequence, 3, 6, 12, 24, ...where a = 3 and r = 2
A geometric series is the sum of the terms of a geometric sequence.
The geometric series that corresponds to the sequence above is 3 + 6 + 12 + 24 + ...
For this series,
S 3=3612=21
Investigate
Rosa decided to research her ancestry for the last 6 generations, which included her 2 parents, 4
grandparents, 8 great-grandparents, and so on. To go back 6 generations, the total number of
people Rosa needed to research was the sum of the following geometric series.
S 6=248163264
1.- a) Use addition to find the total number of people Rosa needed to research.
b) To develop a second method for finding the sum of the series, first write the equation that
represents the sum of the first 6 terms and label it equation (1).
S 6=248163264
(1)
Then, multiply both sides of equation (1) by the common ratio, 2, and label the result equation
(2).
2 S 6 =48163264128
(2)
Write equations (1) and (2) so that the equal terms on the right side line up as shown.
S 6=248163264
2 S6 =
(1)
48163264128
(2)
2.- a) If
S 5=1392781 , find
S6 ?
S 5 by addition
b) Predict the next term in the series, and subtract the first term from it.
c) Compare your answer from part b) with your answer from part a).
d) By what factor would you divide your answer from part b) to give the correct sum?
The method developed in the Investigate can be used to write a formula for finding the sum,
S n , of a general geometric series.
For the general geometric series
S n = a a r a r 2 ... a r n
r S n=
a r a r 2 ... a r n
r S n S n = a rn a
S n r 1 = a r
r 1 :
Sn =
arn a
r 1
(1)
a rn
(2)
a
or
Sn =
a r n 1
r 1
r 1
S n , of the n first terms of a geometric series can be found using the formula
Sn =
a r n 1
r 1
r 1
16
S8
Solution
n
Sn =
a = 2 ; r= 4, and n = 8.
8
a r 1
r 1
2 4 1 2 4 1
S8 =
=
= 43690 . The sum of the first 8 terms is 43690.
4 1
3
Example 2.- Sum of a Geometric Series When r < 0
Find
S9
Solution
n
a = 3 ; r= - 3, and n = 9.
S9 =
Sn =
a r 1
r 1
3 39 1 3 39 1
=
= 14763 . The sum of the first 9 terms is 14763.
3 1
4
Practise
1.- Find the indicated sum for each geometric series.
a)
S7
for 1 + 4 + 16 +
S 15
S7
b)
S8
for 2 6 + 18 ...
If we increase the number of terms what would the sum of all the terms be?
17
S6
1 1
2 4
...
b) If we increase the number of terms what would the sum of all the terms be?
3.- Billionaires club. Frank had a plan to become a billionaire. He would put aside 1 cent on
the first day, 2 cents on the second day, 4 cents on the third day, and so on, doubling the
number of cents each day.
a) How much money would he have after 20 days?
4.- Chess. According to an old tale, the inventor of chess, Sissa Dahir, was granted anything he
wished by the Indian king, Shirham. Sissa asked for one grain of wheat for the first square on
the chess board, two grains for the second square, four grains for the third, eight grains for the
fourth, and so on, for all 64 squares.
a) How many grains did Sissa ask for?
b) If one grain of wheat has a mass of 65 mg, how did the mass of wheat that Sissa asked for
compare with the worlds annual wheat production?
18